I am just going to enjoy what I have this summer. I have faced the fact that the Zen Select (SE84CS) with original SV83 Svetlana Tubes and the Super Zen CKC have ruined me for anything else. Totally musical and transparent with Tone-texture! I have come to terms with this. Yes, I can enjoy my other behemoth system, but not like I enjoy my Zen's.

I have had the EL84 Mono Blocks from Steve and the Torii MK III. However, the transparency of my little Zen's can't be beat...even though I give up just a little tiny bit in dynamics from the III in my System...but the added liquidity of my Kimber Select lets me get over it.

The only thing I have found that is as liquid and transparent as my little Zens with a little more dynamics is Keith Herron's, of Herron Audio... combination of Pre Amp and Mono Blocks at 13.5K....that is saying something. -Stone of Tone

So true, so true Lord Soth. I do have a synergy going that I am quite pleased with.

beowulf, not to contradict myself....and as good as the Rega Brio-R is...I am Jones-in' for a Pass Labs to enter the Listening Room. I am intrigued and I think the First Watt J2 is the one I'll bring in next month.

Currently, their is one on Audiogon shipping from Hawaii for 2k... . However, I want the full 36 month warranty to apply and I want the great return policy that Reno Hi-Fi offers. I will post some impression after I have had it for a few weeks in late June or July. The law of diminishing returns certainly applies to Audio and the First Watt J2 might be the bargain to rotate with my SE84CS & SuperZen CKC. -Stone

I don't like Preamps....so, the Listening Room has never had one and does not need one. My Audio Alchemy 3.0 with Remote has adjustable voltage output that serves as my preamp...has no problem driving anything for 18 years now (purchased AA Pro & 3.0 new in April of 1995). All the new Emperor's clothes have still not dethroned my Audio Alchemy gear! Talk about staying power!

Well, I can't make up my damn mind! Instead of the J2...I might bring in a demo Pass INT-30A for 10 day trial from Mark at Reno HiFi. -S

Interesting. I didn't like preamps either . . . til I tried the CSP2 and then the CSP2+ . . . . The different textures that "riding the gain" allows are seductive. . . and addictive. . . Now I have a CSP2 in my second system, and two CSP2+ in my main system.

Sounds like you have another adventure ahead of you whichever amp you pick!

Hi Lon, I hope your move went well and all is well in your new surroundings....as you will have to adjust to a northern winter once again.

Yes, I do ride the gain currently with my AA DAC/adjustable voltage output/via remote. However, I am not riding the gain via my AA DAC with remote into the CSP2+, then into either my CS or CKC.

Here is what I'm doing: I am putting the First Watt J2, Pass INT-30A on hold and enjoying my wonderful SE84CS & down right organic CKC this summer. I am going to continue to read Steve's thread about his new creation (Mystery Amp) that I am interested in too.

Come this Fall when the weather turns foul here in MN I am seriously considering all of these in no particular order:-Taboo MK III-Mystery AMP-J2-INT 30A-CSP2+ ....and purchase a new Kimber Select 1030 from the Cable Co. per discount repeat customer...that I will need. The 1030 has such a profound effect in conjunction with my KS 3033 it will be a must.

Thanks Lon, I know you have been an advocate of the Steve's great Pre's and I need to bring one in here. -Stone

Stone, my move went well, I'm having a hard time here though as I have about 10 percent of the listening time I had before or just plain time to myself . . . I'm at my parents house most all the day and evening helping them in various ways and I'm away from my system, discs and musical instruments way too long. No days off either. It's harder to adjust to this than I thought, and on top of that I miss my gal and friends. I couldn't NOT do this, but if I had an option I'd be very tempted to opt out! As an extreme introvert I need more time to myself than I have. I hope I toughen up as I'm feeling wimpy looking forward.

Hey if one doesn't need a preamp one doesn't need one. I actually don't need one in my present system but it's better with them! Nice list of things to consider, will be interesting to see what your systems become in the next twelve months or so.

That damn SE84CS....has ruined me for sure. Furthermore, you can find a pair (I have found two)...conventional Speakers that can rock (read as: fidelity/transparency & texture-not garage Klipsch rocking) in a 10 X 12 treated room at 76db SPL with the CS and it sounds like it is at 90db SPL.

Anyway, so much for just enjoying what I have. I have had in Zu Audio, Klipsch....Primaluna.....all were great learning experiences to figure out what you know and want in your System. Restocking fee's and shipping costs suck....but you gotta know what you want!

Well, I'm not saying, I'm not having the Pass Labs INT-30A in or the Mystery Amp....in too at some point. But, it seems futile now to try and beat its fidelity (CS) for me. However, I do have a front end coming in today...that I will be very surprised if it disappoints. Ohhhh, another burn in period ahead of me! -Stone

PS-I am distilling this down to no more hardware purchases and stick with buying CD's and Vinyl only........... . Yes, I still buy Cd's....you computer download nerds out there. hehe

From Ebaen,The unquestionably greatest most important audio discovery of the year came by way of Nelson Pass and his silicon-carbide based static induction transistor amp called FirstWatt SIT2. Single stage + zero feedback + zero degeneration + class A, this $5.000 10wpc SETransistor amp showcased the maestro's custom power JFET commissioned from US supplier SemiSouth. Exhibiting true triode curves, it's a solid-state output device radically new to audio applications. Though it shares conceptual details with vertical power JFETs from Sony and Yamaha which date back to the 1970s and one contemporary parallel with Kazuhiko Nishi's Digital DoMain amp from Japan, nothing like it has ever appeared in as minimalist/purist a commercial hifi amplifier before.

First time I've seen this thread, and first time hearing about that Herron guy.

Read up on him...sounds like a smart dude, but he's got two strikes against him. "Director of R&D for Crate" and lives in Missouri!

Us poor folks have to live vicariously through threads like this...on the plus side, it's nice knowing that I found Decware and Steve can hook us up with transparent sound without spending $12k on Pre/Power.

That said, I could totally see me wanting better speakers after the MK IV. Hopefully not, since the MG944 pretty much tops my limited budget, and the MK IV...well, I'm cutting corners to afford it. LOL